90bhp Bora No Power

**loz683** · 16-02-2007,08:50 AM

I have a 1999 90bhp bora that will only do about 93mph and really struggles to get there,i dont usually travel at that speed but i have suspected for a while that something was'nt quite right,it lacks power in every gear, once the revs reach abuot 2500 it just seems to die as if there is nothing there,i need to get this sorted as i pull a conway camper and i am having a tow bar fitted to the bora in a few weeks ready for the summer.Can anybody help with this,is it a common problem?The car has only done 84000 and has a fsh and is due for service next month.

**Cam** · 16-02-2007,10:17 AM

Sounds similar to my issue. Bora 2.0L 2000 115 Bhp.

My issue seems to go away once running at temp. Although I have no issue accelerating from 70mph up.

The guys responding to my post, suggest MAF, coils, possibly even injectors need cleaned?

Apparently the 1.8T and 2.0L engines are notorious for coils going. There are a few posts on hear relating to MAF also.

Is your engine managment warning light on?

Also, if you can get somebody to hook it up to a VAG com diagnostic, you'll get any fault codes which would help pinpoint problems.

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers

**loz683** · 16-02-2007,10:34 AM

Thanks for the info cam,my car is a 1.9 tdi when i got the car a guy at work did a diagnostic check and it showed no faults.

No the engine managment light is not on so it's a bit of a mystery,like i said earlier it's due for a service so i will see what it's like after that,

The guy that did the diagnostic check suggested i get it re-mapped but i'm not sure he reckons i could get 120bhp but i'm a bit wary and £300 is'nt cheap.

**Eshrules** · 16-02-2007,10:51 AM

Originally Posted by loz683

Thanks for the info cam,my car is a 1.9 tdi when i got the car a guy at work did a diagnostic check and it showed no faults.

No the engine managment light is not on so it's a bit of a mystery,like i said earlier it's due for a service so i will see what it's like after that,

The guy that did the diagnostic check suggested i get it re-mapped but i'm not sure he reckons i could get 120bhp but i'm a bit wary and £300 is'nt cheap.

no no no lol dont be getting it remapped if theres a fault with it. im not sure of the top speed of the 90bhp, but the fault you described sounds exactly like a MAF fault, try using the search for the MAF issue.... its very common on the 1.9tdi, basically, the MAF gets covered in all the crap the air contains after passing through the filter... this then 'covers' the MAF which then gives false readings which lead to issues such as you have described....

ill have a look for some threads re this, its very common and 9 times out of ten youll get away with cleaning your MAF, saving the big replacement bill.

**loz683** · 16-02-2007,11:13 AM

I cant begin to tell you how glad i am i joined this forum,

The top speed for this model according to parkers is 112mph,i'm not really bothered about the speed i just thought there was something seriously wrong with the car.

So you reckon give the MAF a good clean i'm no mechanical genius but i know my way around an engine bay and i can use a spanner,so where does the MAF live? can i sort it myself? Thanks for the info much appreciated

**Eshrules** · 16-02-2007,11:41 AM

Originally Posted by loz683

I cant begin to tell you how glad i am i joined this forum,

The top speed for this model according to parkers is 112mph,i'm not really bothered about the speed i just thought there was something seriously wrong with the car.

So you reckon give the MAF a good clean i'm no mechanical genius but i know my way around an engine bay and i can use a spanner,so where does the MAF live? can i sort it myself? Thanks for the info much appreciated

LOL your more than welcome, theres no way you should only be able to do 90mph, even for a 90bhp that is slow mate.

as for the MAF, sure is easy to find.... as you look at your air filter box, youll see it in 2 halfs in effect, look at the top bit, as the pipe comes out of the box, youll see a sensor attached, the air passes over this before it travels anywhere else, its simply screwed in with 2 torx screws, undo them and unplug the sensor, there you have your MAF.

all you need is an electrical solvent that doesnt leave a residue, such as carb cleaner although some people would argue this is too harsh, id have to say use at your own risk although ive not had any problems.

there was a member who posted something up which i worked off, il try and find it for you.

**Eshrules** · 16-02-2007,11:44 AM

https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...?t=3983&page=2

the thread as promised

**loz683** · 16-02-2007,01:48 PM

Eshrules can't thank you enough i will be having a tinker this weekend and hopefully get it sorted,i work for an aircraft engineering company so i am sure we will have some suitable chemicals lying around that will do the job,it will be interesting to see what a difference it wiil make,i got blew away at the lights the other day by a ford ka (most embarassing)that's when i knew there was something reall wrong,thanks for the threads makes good reading.

**Eshrules** · 16-02-2007,02:17 PM

Originally Posted by loz683

Eshrules can't thank you enough i will be having a tinker this weekend and hopefully get it sorted,i work for an aircraft engineering company so i am sure we will have some suitable chemicals lying around that will do the job,it will be interesting to see what a difference it wiil make,i got blew away at the lights the other day by a ford ka (most embarassing)that's when i knew there was something reall wrong,thanks for the threads makes good reading.

LOl i wouldnt be too ashamed, ive driven a 1.25 fiesta and it was nippy, low range, low speeds, they're quick off the line, when your turbo kicks in is when you have fune

no problems, here to help, keep us updated though! nice to know what happens!

**Cam** · 16-02-2007,03:20 PM

Loz,

Updated my thread. It is the MAF sensor causing my problem.

Only one bit to add on cleaning it. It's the tamper proof Torx screws.

They have a small dot in the middle that prevents a normal torx fitting in.

As Eshrules says, they are notorious for suiting up. My colleague has an S3 and has cleaned his MAF several times. Much cheaper than buying a new one.

You could try what I did and what Eshrules suggested, pull the MAF sensor loom connector off and see if it improves. It reverts to a default map, mine is running a little rough under 1500rpm on the default map.

Hope you get it corrected.

Cheers